Secret Swimming Spots

So maybe "secret" is a stretch, but if you're looking to escape the summer crowds, then here are our suggestions for beaches other than Hampton, swimming holes and serene lake spots.

Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye is one of our favorite beaches.

Hampton Beach and its bustling boardwalk will always hold a special place in our hearts, but sometimes you want to escape the noise along with the heat. Here are some of our favorite swimming spots, from lesser-known beaches to quasi-secret swimming holes.

Ocean Beach State Parks

Did you know that there are actually five public beaches located along the seacoast? Not bad for such a short coastline. In addition to the ever-popular Hampton Beach, here are four others to visit before the summer is over. Parking is $2 this month at each (meters accept cash, coins and cards) unless otherwise noted.

Jenness State Beach
2280 Ocean Blvd., Rye
Keep in mind that the parking lot is relatively small — there are just 67 spots, so get there early. This is a great family spot that's ideal for swimming and picnicking. Lifeguards are on duty daily until 4:45 p.m. through August 21, and there are bathhouses available.

North Hampton Beach
Rte. 1A, North Hampton
There is a bathhouse here, but there are no lifeguards on duty.

North Beach
920 Ocean Blvd., Hampton
Lovely sandy beach and nice places to picnic. Lifeguards are on duty daily until 5:15 p.m. through mid-August. There is a bathhouse available.

Visit nhstateparks.org for admission prices, more information and a list of other parks.

Wallis Sands State Beach
1050 Ocean Blvd., Rye
Enjoy views of the Isles of Shoals, plentiful parking (500 spaces; $15 per car), a shop with food and drinks, a large bathhouse with showers, a picnic area and daily lifeguarding until 5 p.m. through September 5.

Lake State Parks

On weekends, it’s not unusual for many of the more popular lake beaches to reach capacity by midmorning. Here are a few quieter suggestions:

Echo Lake
68 Echo Lake Rd., Conway
Admission is $4 for adults; $2 for children ages 6-11; children ages 5 and under and New Hampshire residents age 65 and over are admitted free.
The 700-foot Cathedral Ledge towers over this pristine mountain lake. A truly lovely place to spend the day.

Forest Lake State Park
397 Forest Lake Rd., Dalton
Created in 1935, this is one of New Hampshire’s 10 original state parks. Enjoy the 200-foot sandy beach, picnicking, fishing and more.

Wadleigh State Park
78 Wadleigh State Park, Sutton
Admission is $4 for adults; $2 for children ages 6-11; children ages 5 and under and New Hampshire residents age 65 and over are admitted free.
Tall pines shade the picnic areas located on the shores of Kezar Lake.

Wentworth State Park
297 Governor Wentworth Hwy., Wolfeboro
Admission is $4 for adults; $2 for children ages 6-11; children ages 5 and under and New Hampshire residents age 65 and over are admitted free.
It spans 50 acres and is located on the shore of scenic Wentworth Lake.

Swimming Holes

Unlike most state parks, you’re on your own here. Please exercise caution when swimming, and never go alone! That said, here are some of our favorite “secret” spots:

Sawyer Rock in Bartlett is a quintessential swimming hole. Photo by Ian Paterson

Sawyer Rock
Located on Sawyer Brook, a half-mile on Rte. 302 past the Silver Springs Campground in Bartlett. Keep your eyes peeled for the parking area on the side of the road. Gorgeous, deep pool with a large rock for drying off in the sun.

Horseshoe Falls
Located off Rte. 101 on the Souhegan River In Wilton. Here brave souls climb the natural ledge to plunge into the deep water below. Not to worry — there are plenty of spots to simply wade in as well.

Lonesome Lake
This beautiful 12-acre swimming spot is about 2,760 feet above Franconia Notch on the trail to Cannon Mountain. It’s well worth the three-mile, round-trip hike. The trailhead is located at the parking lot in the Lafayette Place Campground.

Emerald Pool
It’s is a little off the beaten path, but it’s an easy hike of about mile off Rte. 113 in Chatham on the Baldface Mountain Circle Trail, about 14 miles north of Fryeburg, Maine. It is a small pool formed where water rushes through a cleft in the rock.

This article appears in the August 2016 issue of New Hampshire Magazine